Law

Climate change causes many challenges for poor and vulnerable people around the world. When the land which provides people with their daily bread is under constant flooding, or gets infertile due to continuous droughts, then they have experienced a heavy loss. It is no longer possible to adapt to the changes in the climate.

The debate about "loss and damage" due to climate change, has been discussed intensively at the ongoing COP20 in Lima. "Loss and damage" is a term coving many topics and issues, including economic compensation, safe migration and how to deal with the risks of loss of cultures and traditions.

Many governments are concerned about the future of their populations, who may be forced to migrate, or move their homes. Scientists have expressed the same concern. The 5th IPCC report highlighted the fact that climate change is increasingly causing economic, social and human security problems. For many developing countries it is therefore crucial to get "Loss and damage" included in a future global climate change agreement.

However, rich countries are reluctant to address the issue of "Loss and damage". Their argument is that the losses are already covered and included in the existing climate agreements, as they see these losses as just another type of adaptation.

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